#ta’anit esther
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Holidays 3.6
Holidays
Alamo Day (Texas)
Black Balloon Day
Blackout Day
Chamorro Heritage Day (Guam)
City of Toronto Day (Canada)
Day of the Dude (Dudeism)
Day of Tolerance and Coexistence (Iraq)
Dentist’s Day
Equal Pay Day (Germany)
European Day of the Righteous (EU)
European Day of Speech & Language Therapy
Feast of Excited Insects (China, Korea)
Headache Relief Day
Hospitality Workers in HealthCare Day
International Agunah Day
International Ballprank Day
International Day of the Sculptor
International Day of the Skype Call
International Metal Pipe Day
King Tut Day
Labour Day (Western Australia, Australia)
Marion Berry Day (DC)
Narcissus Day
National Brian Day
National Damien Day
National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence (Iraq)
National Deaf Youth Day
National Dress Day
National Emotional Civility Day
National Ford Day
National Jute Day (Bangladesh)
National Pharmacy Education Day (India)
National Report General Service Administration (GSA) Fraud Day
National Shirley Day
No Homework Day
Remember the Alamo Day
Silly Putty Day
Snowshoe Day
Sofia Kovalesvskaya Math Day
Spinach Day (French Republic)
Stoneware Pottery Appreciation Day
Tolerance and Coexistence Day (Iraq)
Toronto Day (Canada)
Trollface Day
Women’s Day (Tajikistan)
World Conservation Strategy Day
World Lymphedema Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
National Frozen Food Day
National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
Oreo Cookie Day (a.k.a. National Oreo Day)
World Laksa Day
1st Wednesday in March
Discover What Your Name Means Day [Wednesday of Name Week]
Global Day of Inclusion [1st Wednesday]
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants Day [1st Wednesday]
National Surface Finishing Day [1st Wednesday]
Spread the Word: Inclusion Day [1st Wednesday]
Stop Bad Service Day [1st Wednesday]
World Maths Day [1st Wednesday]
Independence & Related Days
Foundation Day (Norfolk Island)
Ghana (from UK, 1957)
Servia (Proclaimed a Republic; 1882)
Toronto incorporated (Canada; 1834)
Überstadt (Declared; 2010) [unrecognized]
Festivals Beginning March 6, 2024
Celtic Fair (Sonora, California) [thru 3.8]
Charleston Wine + Food (Charleston, South Carolina) [thru 3.10]
Geneva Book and Press Fair (Geneva, Switzerland) [thru 3.10]
Rogue Festival (Fresno, California) [thru 3.14]
Steam Fair (Pomona, California) [thru 3.7]
Heritage Miami: Wine and Food Experience (Miami, Florida)
New Colossus Festival (New York, New York) [thru 3.10]
North Dakota Winter Show (Valley City, North Dakota) [thru 3.10]
Tampere Film Festival (Tampere, Finland) [thru 3.10]
Western Stampede (Chowchilla, California) [thru 3.8]
Feast Days
Abelardo (Muppetism)
Baldred of Scotland (Christian; Saint)
Borrowed Days begin (Pastafarian)
Cadroe (Christian; Saint)
Chrodegang (Christian; Saint)
Colette (Christian; Saint & Virgin)
Cyneburga (Christian; Saint)
Cyril of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)
Day of the East Wind (Pagan)
Elizabeth Barret Browning (Writerism)
Feast of Eriu (Celtic Book of Days)
Felicity and her Companions (Christian; Martyrs)
Festival of Mars (Old Roman God of War)
Fridolin (Christian; Saint)
Fusilli Day (Pastafarian)
Gabriel García Márquez (Writerism)
Jesus Nazarene of Atalaya (Christian; Saint) [Panama]
Krishima Jingu Otaue-Sai (Ceremonial Rice Planting; Japan; Starza Pagan Book of Days)
Kyneburga, Kyneswide and Tibba (Christian; Saints)
Lao-Tzu Day (Taoism) [15th Day of 2nd Lunar Month]
March Goblins’ Galumphing Gala and Display (Shamanism)
Marcian of Tortona (Christian; Saint)
Michaelangelo (Artology)
Olegarius (Christian; Saint)
Perpetua (Christian; Saint)
Quisling Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Rose of Viterbo (Christian; Saint)
Ta’anit Esther (The Fast of Esther; Judaism) [13 Adar]
Treachery Day (Church of the SubGenius)
William W. Mayo and Charles Frederick Menninger (Episcopal Church (USA))
Xenophanes (Positivist; Saint)
Christian Moveable Calendar Holidays
Mi-Carême (Guadeloupe, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin) [Mid-Lent]
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Perilous Day (13th Century England) [12 of 32]
Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]
Premieres
Ariel, by Sylvia Plath (Poems; 1965)
Barnyard Amateurs, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)
The Big Lebowski (Film; 1998)
The Bird Who Came to Dinner (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1961)
Brementown Musicians (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1935)
Brotherly Love (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1936)
Chappie (Film; 2015)
Cyrano (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1974)
÷ (a.k.a. Divide), by Ed Sheeran (Album; 2017)
Dog Meets Dog (Phantasies; 1942)
Eat Me Kitty, Eight to the Bar (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)
Everest (IMAX Documentary Film; 1998)
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Film; 1921)
The Fright-Seeing Trip of Visit to a Small Panic (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 30; 1960)
Hasty But Tasty (Ant and the Aardvark Cartoon; 1969)
History of the World, Part II (TV Series; 2023)
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (Film; 2015)
Kissin’ Cousins (Film; 1964) [Elvis Presley #14]
La Sonnambula, by Vincenzo Bellini (Opera; 1831)
La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1853)
Lethal Weapon (Film; 1987)
Let It Be, by The Beatles (Song; 1970)
Logan's Run, by William F. Nolan (Novel; 1967)
Lorenzo (Disney Cartoon; 2004)
Medusa, by Annie Lennox (Album; 1995)
Onward (Animated Film; 2020)
Paint It Black, recorded by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1966)
The Pen-Pals or Rock Hocky Rocky (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 29; 1960)
Play Ball (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)
Playdate with Destiny (Animated Simpsons Cartoon; 2020)
So Sorry Pussycat (Terrytoons’ Hashimoto Cartoon; 1961)
Starting from Hatch (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1953)
There Goes My Baby, recorded by The Drifters (Song; 1959)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Film; 2015)
Three-Ring Government (America Rocks Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1979)
To Be or Not to Be (Film; 1942)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (TV Series; 2015)
U.S. Marshals (Film; 1998)
Watchmen (Film; 2009)
The Young Victoria (Film; 2009)
Today’s Name Days
Fridolin, Nicola, Rosa (Austria)
Ruža, Viktor, Zvjezdana (Croatia)
Miroslav (Czech Republic)
Gotfred (Denmark)
Tarmo, Tarmu (Estonia)
Tarmo (Finland)
Colette (France)
Fridolin, Nicola, Nicole, Rosa (Germany)
Isyhios (Greece)
Inez, Leonóra (Hungary)
Colette, Giordano, Ezio, Marziano, Marzio (Italy)
Centis, Gotfrids, Vents (Latvia)
Karigailė, Norvilas, Raminta, Rožė (Lithuania)
Andor, Annfrid (Norway)
Eugenia, Felicyta, Frydolin, Jordan, Klaudian, Koleta, Róża, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz, Wojsław (Poland)
Radoslav (Slovakia)
Julián, Olegario (Spain)
Ebba, Ebbe (Sweden)
Carlton, Charlton, Colette, Collette (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 66 of 2024; 300 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 3 of week 10 of 2024
Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 18 of 28]
Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 26 (Ji-Si)
Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)
Hebrew: 26 Adair I 5784
Islamic: 25 Sha’ban 1445
J Cal: 6 Green; Sixday [6 of 30]
Julian: 22 February 2024
Moon: 18%: Waning Crescent
Positivist: 10 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Empodocles]
Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 12 of 15]
Season: Winter (Day 77 of 89)
Week: 1st Week of March
Zodiac: Pisces (Day 17 of 30)
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Holidays 3.6
Holidays
Alamo Day (Texas)
Black Balloon Day
Blackout Day
Chamorro Heritage Day (Guam)
City of Toronto Day (Canada)
Day of the Dude (Dudeism)
Day of Tolerance and Coexistence (Iraq)
Dentist’s Day
Equal Pay Day (Germany)
European Day of the Righteous (EU)
European Day of Speech & Language Therapy
Feast of Excited Insects (China, Korea)
Headache Relief Day
Hospitality Workers in HealthCare Day
International Agunah Day
International Ballprank Day
International Day of the Sculptor
International Day of the Skype Call
International Metal Pipe Day
King Tut Day
Labour Day (Western Australia, Australia)
Marion Berry Day (DC)
Narcissus Day
National Brian Day
National Damien Day
National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence (Iraq)
National Deaf Youth Day
National Dress Day
National Emotional Civility Day
National Ford Day
National Jute Day (Bangladesh)
National Pharmacy Education Day (India)
National Report General Service Administration (GSA) Fraud Day
National Shirley Day
No Homework Day
Remember the Alamo Day
Silly Putty Day
Snowshoe Day
Sofia Kovalesvskaya Math Day
Spinach Day (French Republic)
Stoneware Pottery Appreciation Day
Tolerance and Coexistence Day (Iraq)
Toronto Day (Canada)
Trollface Day
Women’s Day (Tajikistan)
World Conservation Strategy Day
World Lymphedema Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
National Frozen Food Day
National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
Oreo Cookie Day (a.k.a. National Oreo Day)
World Laksa Day
1st Wednesday in March
Discover What Your Name Means Day [Wednesday of Name Week]
Global Day of Inclusion [1st Wednesday]
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants Day [1st Wednesday]
National Surface Finishing Day [1st Wednesday]
Spread the Word: Inclusion Day [1st Wednesday]
Stop Bad Service Day [1st Wednesday]
World Maths Day [1st Wednesday]
Independence & Related Days
Foundation Day (Norfolk Island)
Ghana (from UK, 1957)
Servia (Proclaimed a Republic; 1882)
Toronto incorporated (Canada; 1834)
Überstadt (Declared; 2010) [unrecognized]
Festivals Beginning March 6, 2024
Celtic Fair (Sonora, California) [thru 3.8]
Charleston Wine + Food (Charleston, South Carolina) [thru 3.10]
Geneva Book and Press Fair (Geneva, Switzerland) [thru 3.10]
Rogue Festival (Fresno, California) [thru 3.14]
Steam Fair (Pomona, California) [thru 3.7]
Heritage Miami: Wine and Food Experience (Miami, Florida)
New Colossus Festival (New York, New York) [thru 3.10]
North Dakota Winter Show (Valley City, North Dakota) [thru 3.10]
Tampere Film Festival (Tampere, Finland) [thru 3.10]
Western Stampede (Chowchilla, California) [thru 3.8]
Feast Days
Abelardo (Muppetism)
Baldred of Scotland (Christian; Saint)
Borrowed Days begin (Pastafarian)
Cadroe (Christian; Saint)
Chrodegang (Christian; Saint)
Colette (Christian; Saint & Virgin)
Cyneburga (Christian; Saint)
Cyril of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)
Day of the East Wind (Pagan)
Elizabeth Barret Browning (Writerism)
Feast of Eriu (Celtic Book of Days)
Felicity and her Companions (Christian; Martyrs)
Festival of Mars (Old Roman God of War)
Fridolin (Christian; Saint)
Fusilli Day (Pastafarian)
Gabriel García Márquez (Writerism)
Jesus Nazarene of Atalaya (Christian; Saint) [Panama]
Krishima Jingu Otaue-Sai (Ceremonial Rice Planting; Japan; Starza Pagan Book of Days)
Kyneburga, Kyneswide and Tibba (Christian; Saints)
Lao-Tzu Day (Taoism) [15th Day of 2nd Lunar Month]
March Goblins’ Galumphing Gala and Display (Shamanism)
Marcian of Tortona (Christian; Saint)
Michaelangelo (Artology)
Olegarius (Christian; Saint)
Perpetua (Christian; Saint)
Quisling Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Rose of Viterbo (Christian; Saint)
Ta’anit Esther (The Fast of Esther; Judaism) [13 Adar]
Treachery Day (Church of the SubGenius)
William W. Mayo and Charles Frederick Menninger (Episcopal Church (USA))
Xenophanes (Positivist; Saint)
Christian Moveable Calendar Holidays
Mi-Carême (Guadeloupe, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin) [Mid-Lent]
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Perilous Day (13th Century England) [12 of 32]
Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]
Premieres
Ariel, by Sylvia Plath (Poems; 1965)
Barnyard Amateurs, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)
The Big Lebowski (Film; 1998)
The Bird Who Came to Dinner (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1961)
Brementown Musicians (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1935)
Brotherly Love (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1936)
Chappie (Film; 2015)
Cyrano (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1974)
÷ (a.k.a. Divide), by Ed Sheeran (Album; 2017)
Dog Meets Dog (Phantasies; 1942)
Eat Me Kitty, Eight to the Bar (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)
Everest (IMAX Documentary Film; 1998)
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Film; 1921)
The Fright-Seeing Trip of Visit to a Small Panic (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 30; 1960)
Hasty But Tasty (Ant and the Aardvark Cartoon; 1969)
History of the World, Part II (TV Series; 2023)
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (Film; 2015)
Kissin’ Cousins (Film; 1964) [Elvis Presley #14]
La Sonnambula, by Vincenzo Bellini (Opera; 1831)
La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1853)
Lethal Weapon (Film; 1987)
Let It Be, by The Beatles (Song; 1970)
Logan's Run, by William F. Nolan (Novel; 1967)
Lorenzo (Disney Cartoon; 2004)
Medusa, by Annie Lennox (Album; 1995)
Onward (Animated Film; 2020)
Paint It Black, recorded by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1966)
The Pen-Pals or Rock Hocky Rocky (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 29; 1960)
Play Ball (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)
Playdate with Destiny (Animated Simpsons Cartoon; 2020)
So Sorry Pussycat (Terrytoons’ Hashimoto Cartoon; 1961)
Starting from Hatch (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1953)
There Goes My Baby, recorded by The Drifters (Song; 1959)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Film; 2015)
Three-Ring Government (America Rocks Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1979)
To Be or Not to Be (Film; 1942)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (TV Series; 2015)
U.S. Marshals (Film; 1998)
Watchmen (Film; 2009)
The Young Victoria (Film; 2009)
Today’s Name Days
Fridolin, Nicola, Rosa (Austria)
Ruža, Viktor, Zvjezdana (Croatia)
Miroslav (Czech Republic)
Gotfred (Denmark)
Tarmo, Tarmu (Estonia)
Tarmo (Finland)
Colette (France)
Fridolin, Nicola, Nicole, Rosa (Germany)
Isyhios (Greece)
Inez, Leonóra (Hungary)
Colette, Giordano, Ezio, Marziano, Marzio (Italy)
Centis, Gotfrids, Vents (Latvia)
Karigailė, Norvilas, Raminta, Rožė (Lithuania)
Andor, Annfrid (Norway)
Eugenia, Felicyta, Frydolin, Jordan, Klaudian, Koleta, Róża, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz, Wojsław (Poland)
Radoslav (Slovakia)
Julián, Olegario (Spain)
Ebba, Ebbe (Sweden)
Carlton, Charlton, Colette, Collette (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 66 of 2024; 300 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 3 of week 10 of 2024
Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 18 of 28]
Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 26 (Ji-Si)
Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)
Hebrew: 26 Adair I 5784
Islamic: 25 Sha’ban 1445
J Cal: 6 Green; Sixday [6 of 30]
Julian: 22 February 2024
Moon: 18%: Waning Crescent
Positivist: 10 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Empodocles]
Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 12 of 15]
Season: Winter (Day 77 of 89)
Week: 1st Week of March
Zodiac: Pisces (Day 17 of 30)
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תענית אסתר הוא יום תענית הנהוג בי"ג באדר, ערב חג הפורים.
צום תענית אסתר נמשך מעלות השחר ועד צאת הכוכבים.
The Fast of Esther, Ta’anit Esther, is a fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve. Commemorating the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of the Book of Esther. The Fast of Esther is held on March 6, 2023, and Purim is celebrated this evening and the following day, March 7
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ADAR - The Joy of The Lord is my Strength
Jewish Motto: “When Adar Comes, Joy is Increased”
February 21st at sundown (Adar 1) to March 22nd (Adar 29) 2023 at sundown.
12th month - Adar is the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. The word Adar means “strength.”
It’s a month of good fortune for the Jewish people and a month of joy. The joy of Adar is what makes this the “pregnant” month of the year.
Babylonian Name: Adar – Meaning “Strength” and “Good Fortune”
Month of the year: 12th Month of Spiritual Year and 6th Month of Physical Year
Theme of the Month: The Joy of The Lord is my Strength
Season: Winter/Horaf – Season of VICTORY and JOY
Key Appointed Times: Adar 1 Rosh Codesh Adar
Adar 13 Ta’anit Esther (Feast of Esther)
Adar 14 Purim (Feast of Lots)
Note: During a Leap Year and extra month of Adar is added with Adar 1 having 30 days and Adar 11 is 29 days; its Rosh Chodesh is two days; 1st day is 30th of Adar I and 2nd day of its Rosh Chodesh is 1st of Adar II. Purim falls in this month of Adar 11.
Color is Purple – Gemstone is Amethyst
Tribe of Israel: Naphtali –meaning “Sweetness is to me.” It’s a time of celebration where curses are overturned and things become sweet.
Hebrew Letter: Kuf / has a value of 100 – Represents holiness, what is behind, cycle or circuit of time, removing the masquerade, entering joy
Action: Laughter / Body Part – Spleen
Constellation: Pisces represented by 2 fish. This is the month where Jesus told Peter to find the fish with the money in its mouth to pay their taxes. There is an identity for you, which is linked to the invisible world, not to the natural.
Month of Adar’s Characteristic & Scriptures to Meditate On
Month to be joyous, to celebrate God’s victory over evil (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
Celebrate specific victorious endings in your life (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
Time to activate and engage, act and speak like Esther (Exodus 4:12, Esther 4:16 & Psalms 81:10)
Enter into joy and laughter (Proverbs 17:22 & Proverbs 31:25)
Tap into God’s supernatural joy that is within you (Galatians 5:22-23)
Declare “THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH” (Nehemiah 8:10)
In God’s presence there is fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11)
This is the season to CONDEMN EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES AGAINST YOU (Isaiah 54:17)
Don’t let the GIANTS bring fear upon your life (1 John 4:18)
Season to celebrate the reversal of curses (Esther 7:9-10, Galatians 3:13)
The Hebrew month of Adar is linked to many events in Jewish history but the highlight of this month is ‘The Festival of Purim.’ The story is related in the Bible in the book of Esther.
The ‘Festival of Purim’ is always celebrated on the 14th and 15th of Adar which happens to be in the middle of a lunar month, meaning it always falls on a full moon.
Other Important Events That Happened in the Month of Adar
3 Adar: The Second Temple was Completed (Ezra 6:15)
7 Adar: Birth and Death of Moses who lived 120 years. It’s noteworthy to mention that the 7th of Adar never ever has fallen on a Sabbath day.
12 Adar: God exacted vengeance against "Turyanus" (probably a nickname derived from "tyrannus" which means despote in Latin; the word comes from the Greek τυ ́ ́ραννος which means "absolute master"); who was a Roman officer wanting to kill the Jews of Lod/Lydda
13 Adar: Esther’s fast related in Esther 4. This day is also marked by the “Day of Nicanor” named after an enemy Seleucid general who oppressed the Jews during the Maccabee’s Revolt. Nicanor died in the battle of Adasa in the year 161 BCE at the hand of Judah Maccabee.
Interesting Facts about Purim
The word Purim is written פורים in Hebrew: its numerical value is 80+6+200+10+40= 336. And 336 = 4*12*7, where 4 is the number of seasons, 12 the number of months, and 7 the number of days of the week. As we can see Purim is another form, a compound, if you will, of any calendar which is based on seasons/years, months, days/weeks. Furthermore 336 also equals to 2*24*7 which alludes to 2 being daylight and night each day, 7 days in a week and 24 hours in a day.
Celebrate That Your Course Is Overturned
Purim is the last month of the Hebrew calendar and is also the last festival of the Hebrew calendar. Purim is considered to have all the symbolism of all the other Jewish festivals. Purim is about redemption from complete annihilation and extermination, similar to that of the Exodus story of Passover and the redemption of slavery). It’s also likened to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year where everyone is judged (Divine Judgement-Life or Death). So is the day of Yom Kippur, a day of fasting. Esther and her people fasted. It is also like Sukkot, a time of joy and sharing meals with one another. Oddly enough the Bible book of Esther never mentions, not once, the name of God. God never appears in any form, Elohim, El, God, Jehovah, Yahweh or Yah, in the entire 10 chapters of the book of Esther. Yet, as we read the book, it is clearly evident, that God is operating behind the scenes in an awesome, powerful way. It is also evident, as we read, that God Himself orchestrated the whole thing, knowing that a descendant of Amalek, Haman, was out, plotting, to annihilate God’s people. God ensured a means for His people’s deliverance.
Darkness Turned Into Light
“Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)” Esther 9:1 AKJV
Haman’s choice of when to annihilate the Jews was accomplished by throwing lots. The 13th of Adar came up and Haman was thrilled as he knew that the 7th of Adar was the day when Moses died. What he didn’t know was that the 7th of Adar was also the same day that Moses was born. Haman believed that the month of Adar was a month of darkness but it was actually a time of great joy for the Jewish people.
Haman’s plot of wanting to annihilate the Jewish people was overturned and death came upon him and his ten son’s. They were hung on the very gallows Haman had setup for Mordecai, Esther’s step father and a Jewish leader.
Esther 9:20-22: 20- “And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far. 21- To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22- As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” AKJV
MAY THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU.
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Found this online, today. Thought it worth passing on.
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to any of my fellow jewish followers who are fasting ta’anit esther today- have an easy fast, please stay safe and I love you all 💓
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משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה-When Adar comes in we are very joyful
And what better way to be joyful than to read books?
FAQ
1. Can I join if I’m not Jewish?
Yes! The readathon is open to everyone.
2. What is Purim?
It’s a Jewish holiday that happens in the Hebrew month of Adar! We celebrate not being murdered by a vizier by eating, drinking, dressing up and giving charity. Here’s a link to the story. Here are a list of some customs.
3. How many days is it?
16. Between 7 March (First day of the new month)-22 March (Shushan Purim)
4. Okay, I read the Timetable and you mentioned Adar A and Adar B. What’s up with that? Also, the readathon starts on the 30th of Adar A but it says that it’s the first day of the new month?
The Hebrew calendar has 12 months: Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shvat, Adar, Nissan, Iyar, Sivan, Tamuz, Av, Elul. Except during a leap year where we add another month between Shvat and Adar and call it Adar A and Adar Adar B.
Depending on the moon a Hebrew month ends on the 29th and the new month/moon is on the 1st or the Hebrew month ends on the 30th and new month/moon is on the 30th and 1st.
5. What is the tag?
#purim readathon #purim readathon 2019 #purim readathon 5779
Challenges
Choose as few or as many as you want
-read a book with a woman main character
-read a book with children as the main characters
-read a book with an over-the-top villain
-read a book where one of the characters is a translator or a soccer player (or both)
-read a book where the characters dress up
-read a book with a clown or circus
-read a book set in Persia/Iran
-read a book set in a palace
-read a book that is unusual in some way (the characters names are redacted, there are no words, there are puzzles in the middle, etc.)
Timetable
7 March (First day of the new month/30 Adar A): Post your TBR
8-10 March (1-3 Adar B): משנכנס When it comes in Talk about the books you started, their beginnings, and what you like in beginnings.
11-13 March (4-6 Adar B): אדר Adar Fish and mythology: Do you like mythology in your books? Do you prefer reading about real mythology or mythology that the author’s made up?
14-16 March (7-9 Adar B): מרבין a lot Are you reading long books or short books for the readathon? In general, which do you prefer?
17-19 March (10-12 Adar B): בשמחה in happiness Do you prefer lighthearted books? Do you like reading humor? If not, what books make you happy?
20 March (Ta’anit Esther or the Fast of Esther/13 Adar B): If you can, without any spoilers, talk about about the sacrifices the characters in the books you’re reading/your favorite books make. Alternatively, or also, talk about the brave moments they have that you loved.
21 March (Purim/14 Adar B): Talk about whatever you want. After all, this is the day that everything turned upside down, and it’s your turn to choose!
22 March (Shushan Purim/15 Adar B): Talk about your underrated favorites. Were any of the books you read for the readathon less popular/hyped? Keep on reading today for one last day of celebration!
23 March (16 Adar B): It’s still Adar but the celebration is over (at least until next month when Passover comes around). What books did you finish? What books didn’t you?
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A Small Miracle On Ta’anit Esther Brings A Jewish Ukrainian Refugee Home On Purim
A Small Miracle On Ta’anit Esther Brings A Jewish Ukrainian Refugee Home On Purim
Dr. Daniella Markizano and Mykola at the refugee center on the phone with Mykola’s daughter sharing the good news
A Small Miracle On Ta’anit Esther Brings A Jewish Ukrainian Refugee Home On Purim
A collaborative effort by Meretz MK, Tikkun Olam Makers, United Hatzalah, Ministry of Absorption, and Interior Ministry, enables a disabled Jewish man to come home.
Chisinau – On Wednesday morning, a…
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Holidays 3.6
Holidays
Alamo Day (Texas)
Black Balloon Day
Blackout Day
Chamorro Heritage Day (Guam)
Day of the Dude (Dudeism)
Dentist’s Day
European Day of the Righteous (EU)
European Day of Speech & Language Therapy
Feast of Excited Insects (China, Korea)
Foundation Day (Norfolk Island)
Headache Relief Day
Hospitality Workers in HealthCare Day
International Agunah Day
International Day of the Sculptor
International Day of the Skype Call
King Tut Day
Labour Day (Western Australia, Australia)
Marion Berry Day (DC)
Narcissus Day
National Brian Day
National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence (Iraq)
National Dress Day
National Emotional Civility Day
National Jute Day (Bangladesh)
National Report General Service Administration (GSA) Fraud Day
Silly Putty Day
Snowshoe Day
Sofia Kovalesvskaya Math Day
Stoneware Pottery Appreciation Day
Tolerance and Coexistence Day (Iraq)
Toronto Day (Canada)
Trollface Day
Women’s Day (Tajikistan)
World Conservation Strategy Day
World Lymphedema Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
National Frozen Food Day
National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
Oreo Cookie Day (a.k.a. National Oreo Day)
World Laksa Day
1st Monday in March
Black Mental Health Day (Canada) [1st Monday]
Casmir Pulaski Day [1st Monday]
Fun Facts About Names Day [Monday of Name Week]
International Badge Day [1st Monday]
Labour Day (Western Australia) [1st Monday]
Magellan Day (a.k.a. Discovery Day; Guam) [1st Monday]
World Tennis Day [1st Monday]
Independence Days
Ghana (from UK, 1957)
Überstadt (Declared; 2010) [unrecognized]
Feast Days
Abelardo (Muppetism)
Baldred of Scotland (Christian; Saint)
Borrowed Days begin (Pastafarian)
Cadroe (Christian; Saint)
Chrodegang (Christian; Saint)
Colette (Christian; Saint)
Day of the East Wind (Pagan)
Festival of Mars (Old Roman God of War)
Fridolin (Christian; Saint)
Fusilli Day (Pastafarian)
Holi (a.k.a. Phagwah, Festival of Color; Guyana, India, Nepal, Suriname)
Kyneburga, Kyneswide and Tibba (Christian; Saint)
Marcian of Tortona (Christian; Saint)
William W. Mayo and Charles Frederick Menninger (Episcopal Church (USA))
Olegarius (Christian; Saint)
Purim (Judaism) [begins at sundown] (a.k.a. ...
Fast of Esther;
Survival Celebration
Ta' Anit Ester
Quisling Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Rose of Viterbo (Christian; Saint)
Ta’anit Esther (The Fast of Esther; Judaism) [13 Adar]
Treachery Day (Church of the SubGenius)
Xenophanes (Positivist; Saint)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]
Perilous Day (13th Century England) [12 of 32]
Premieres
The Big Lebowski (Film; 1998)
Chappie (Film; 2015)
÷ (a.k.a. Divide), by Ed Sheeran (Album; 2017)
Everest (IMAX Documentary Film; 1998)
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Film; 1921)
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (Film; 2015)
Kissin’ Cousins (Film; 1964) [Elvis Presley #14]
La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1853)
Lethal Weapon (Film; 1987)
Let It Be, by The Beatles (Song; 1970)
Lorenzo (Disney Cartoon; 2004)
Medusa, by Annie Lennox (Album; 1995)
Onward (Animated Film; 2020)
Paint It Black, recorded by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1966)
Playdate with Destiny (Animated Simpsons Cartoon; 2020)
There Goes My Baby, recorded by The Drifters (Song; 1959)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Film; 2015)
To Be or Not to Be (Film; 1942)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (TV Series; 2015)
U.S. Marshals (Film; 1998)
Watchmen (Film; 2009)
The Young Victoria (Film; 2009)
Today’s Name Days
Fridolin, Nicola, Rosa (Austria)
Ruža, Viktor, Zvjezdana (Croatia)
Miroslav (Czech Republic)
Gotfred (Denmark)
Tarmo, Tarmu (Estonia)
Tarmo (Finland)
Colette (France)
Fridolin, Nicola, Nicole, Rosa (Germany)
Isyhios (Greece)
Inez, Leonóra (Hungary)
Colette, Giordano, Ezio, Marziano, Marzio (Italy)
Centis, Gotfrids, Vents (Latvia)
Karigailė, Norvilas, Raminta, Rožė (Lithuania)
Andor, Annfrid (Norway)
Eugenia, Felicyta, Frydolin, Jordan, Klaudian, Koleta, Róża, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz, Wojsław (Poland)
Radoslav (Slovakia)
Julián, Olegario (Spain)
Ebba, Ebbe (Sweden)
Carlton, Charlton, Colette, Collette (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 65 of 2023; 300 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 1 of week 10 of 2023
Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 16 of 28]
Chinese: Month 2 (Yi-Mao), Day 15 (Gui-Hai)
Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)
Hebrew: 13 Adar 5783
Islamic: 13 Sha’ban 1444
J Cal: 4 Ver; Foursday [4 of 30]
Julian: 21 February 2023
Moon: 99%: Waxing Gibbous
Positivist: 9 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Xenophanes]
Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 11 of 15]
Season: Winter (Day 76 of 90)
Zodiac: Pisces (Day 15 of 29)
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Holidays 3.6
Holidays
Alamo Day (Texas)
Black Balloon Day
Blackout Day
Chamorro Heritage Day (Guam)
Day of the Dude (Dudeism)
Dentist’s Day
European Day of the Righteous (EU)
European Day of Speech & Language Therapy
Feast of Excited Insects (China, Korea)
Foundation Day (Norfolk Island)
Headache Relief Day
Hospitality Workers in HealthCare Day
International Agunah Day
International Day of the Sculptor
International Day of the Skype Call
King Tut Day
Labour Day (Western Australia, Australia)
Marion Berry Day (DC)
Narcissus Day
National Brian Day
National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence (Iraq)
National Dress Day
National Emotional Civility Day
National Jute Day (Bangladesh)
National Report General Service Administration (GSA) Fraud Day
Silly Putty Day
Snowshoe Day
Sofia Kovalesvskaya Math Day
Stoneware Pottery Appreciation Day
Tolerance and Coexistence Day (Iraq)
Toronto Day (Canada)
Trollface Day
Women’s Day (Tajikistan)
World Conservation Strategy Day
World Lymphedema Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
National Frozen Food Day
National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
Oreo Cookie Day (a.k.a. National Oreo Day)
World Laksa Day
1st Monday in March
Black Mental Health Day (Canada) [1st Monday]
Casmir Pulaski Day [1st Monday]
Fun Facts About Names Day [Monday of Name Week]
International Badge Day [1st Monday]
Labour Day (Western Australia) [1st Monday]
Magellan Day (a.k.a. Discovery Day; Guam) [1st Monday]
World Tennis Day [1st Monday]
Independence Days
Ghana (from UK, 1957)
Überstadt (Declared; 2010) [unrecognized]
Feast Days
Abelardo (Muppetism)
Baldred of Scotland (Christian; Saint)
Borrowed Days begin (Pastafarian)
Cadroe (Christian; Saint)
Chrodegang (Christian; Saint)
Colette (Christian; Saint)
Day of the East Wind (Pagan)
Festival of Mars (Old Roman God of War)
Fridolin (Christian; Saint)
Fusilli Day (Pastafarian)
Holi (a.k.a. Phagwah, Festival of Color; Guyana, India, Nepal, Suriname)
Kyneburga, Kyneswide and Tibba (Christian; Saint)
Marcian of Tortona (Christian; Saint)
William W. Mayo and Charles Frederick Menninger (Episcopal Church (USA))
Olegarius (Christian; Saint)
Purim (Judaism) [begins at sundown] (a.k.a. ...
Fast of Esther;
Survival Celebration
Ta' Anit Ester
Quisling Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Rose of Viterbo (Christian; Saint)
Ta’anit Esther (The Fast of Esther; Judaism) [13 Adar]
Treachery Day (Church of the SubGenius)
Xenophanes (Positivist; Saint)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]
Perilous Day (13th Century England) [12 of 32]
Premieres
The Big Lebowski (Film; 1998)
Chappie (Film; 2015)
÷ (a.k.a. Divide), by Ed Sheeran (Album; 2017)
Everest (IMAX Documentary Film; 1998)
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Film; 1921)
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (Film; 2015)
Kissin’ Cousins (Film; 1964) [Elvis Presley #14]
La Traviata (The Fallen Woman), by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1853)
Lethal Weapon (Film; 1987)
Let It Be, by The Beatles (Song; 1970)
Lorenzo (Disney Cartoon; 2004)
Medusa, by Annie Lennox (Album; 1995)
Onward (Animated Film; 2020)
Paint It Black, recorded by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1966)
Playdate with Destiny (Animated Simpsons Cartoon; 2020)
There Goes My Baby, recorded by The Drifters (Song; 1959)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Film; 2015)
To Be or Not to Be (Film; 1942)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (TV Series; 2015)
U.S. Marshals (Film; 1998)
Watchmen (Film; 2009)
The Young Victoria (Film; 2009)
Today’s Name Days
Fridolin, Nicola, Rosa (Austria)
Ruža, Viktor, Zvjezdana (Croatia)
Miroslav (Czech Republic)
Gotfred (Denmark)
Tarmo, Tarmu (Estonia)
Tarmo (Finland)
Colette (France)
Fridolin, Nicola, Nicole, Rosa (Germany)
Isyhios (Greece)
Inez, Leonóra (Hungary)
Colette, Giordano, Ezio, Marziano, Marzio (Italy)
Centis, Gotfrids, Vents (Latvia)
Karigailė, Norvilas, Raminta, Rožė (Lithuania)
Andor, Annfrid (Norway)
Eugenia, Felicyta, Frydolin, Jordan, Klaudian, Koleta, Róża, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz, Wojsław (Poland)
Radoslav (Slovakia)
Julián, Olegario (Spain)
Ebba, Ebbe (Sweden)
Carlton, Charlton, Colette, Collette (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 65 of 2023; 300 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 1 of week 10 of 2023
Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 16 of 28]
Chinese: Month 2 (Yi-Mao), Day 15 (Gui-Hai)
Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)
Hebrew: 13 Adar 5783
Islamic: 13 Sha’ban 1444
J Cal: 4 Ver; Foursday [4 of 30]
Julian: 21 February 2023
Moon: 99%: Waxing Gibbous
Positivist: 9 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Xenophanes]
Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 11 of 15]
Season: Winter (Day 76 of 90)
Zodiac: Pisces (Day 15 of 29)
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Text
Ta’anit Esther tomorrow and my new position at work gets me an average of 33K steps per shift, wish me luck.
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Hey Rose, aside from Chanukah, what are some other ways to show that Darcy is Jewish? Thank you!
So this depends on a few things, including how religious you think Darcy is. Everything I’m saying applies to any character, btw, but I’m tailoring my responses to a young unmarried Jewish woman living in NYC with primarily non-Jewish friends, which - hey - I’ve got plenty of experience with!
Options include:
Holidays
Hanukkah (Chanukah is fine, transliteration from Hebrew is weird) is obviously a big one, but it’s not the only one.
Darcy is very likely to know when certain holidays are. The big ones are Shabbat, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, and Passover. If she’s one step more observant, she’ll at least remember (if not observe) Sukkot, Sh’mini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Purim, Shavuot, and Tisha B’Av. She may or may not remember yahrzheits, Tu B’Shvat, Yom HaAtzmaut, and Yom HaShoah. Unless you’re making her super religious, she is highly unlikely to pay attention to Rosh Chodesh (the start of the month), the ten days of repentance, Tzom Gedalia, the tenth of Tevet, the fast of Esther, and the 17th of Tamuz.
Technically, in Judaism, the major holidays are Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and the shalosh regalim (three holidays) of Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot, with everything else being a minor holiday, but that’s not really how it shakes out for modern American Jews of Darcy’s age - Hanukkah and Purim especially get elevated while Sukkot and Shavuot especially get lowered.
She will also observe American holidays. Her family almost certainly has Thanksgiving traditions and she may have established traditions for Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s, and July 4th as well. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and July 4th are celebrated like any other American family with the possible addition of keeping kosher - I’ll discuss those rules in the food section. Christmas is often celebrated by going to a movie and eating Chinese food. New Year’s is identical to other Americans.
So let’s talk the five big holidays in detail. For dates and some more information, I strongly suggest this website, and if you have questions about what the options do, always feel free to ask.
You can debate all you want about whether Shabbat counts as a holiday, but it certainly counts as a holy day, so we’re including it. Shabbat is the sabbath, and is traditionally celebrated by doing no work from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. (All Jewish days start at sundown and end at sundown.) You light candles, say blessings over wine, handwashing, and bread, and have family meals, especially on Friday night, and services at synagogue are bigger than they are during the week. Darcy may or may not have found a synagogue she likes in NYC, and she may or may not have attended one at home. But she will think of Friday/Saturday as the sabbath, not Sunday.
Now, no work includes no electronics. Darcy…does not strike me as the type to give those up for a day every week. And honestly, unless she grew up either Orthodox or on the very far observant end of Conservative, she probably wouldn’t have growing up - I didn’t, for example, but my friend the rabbi’s daughter did, so when we played on Shabbat, we didn’t use electronics or money or any number of other things. She still may have traditions she likes to follow. I know that I don’t do the full Shabbat experience when I’m alone in my apartment, but if I’m home, I light candles on Friday night. That’s one of my observances. When I was a kid I went to synagogue every Saturday morning with my family; when I was in college I went to the college group every Friday night. So even if Darcy doesn’t really observe it, she’ll still think of it as Shabbat.
Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur fall between September 4th and October 12th. They’re the most likely days for Jews to go to synagogue. You know how you get Christians who attend church only on Christmas and Easter? Jews do that on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashana is the Jewish new year, and is celebrated with round challahs, apples and honey (round foods symbolize the continuation of the year and the world - birth of the world - while honey is in honor of a sweet new year), synagogue, and family meals. Darcy’s family likely has specific traditions - I see my mom’s brother and his kids every year for dinner during Rosh Hashana, as an example, and brisket and matzah ball soup always get served. Darcy may or may not do much for Rosh Hashana, but as an example of a small thing, she might always eat an apple dipped in honey that day.
Yom Kippur is the day of atonement, and it is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. There are two major fast days (Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av) and five minor fast days (Tzom Gedalia, the tenth of Tevet, Ta’anit Esther, the fast of the first born, and the 17th of Tamuz) in the Jewish calendar, but if a Jew does only one of them, it’s this one. And by the way, the definition of a Jewish fast is no food AND no water - in a major fast, from sundown to sundown, while a minor fast lasts from sunup to sundown. I personally only observe the one, while my stepfather, who’s a step more religious than I am, observes the two major. You have to be either very observant or Orthodox to do the minors, in my experience.
Yom Kippur will likely also have food traditions - in my family, we eat a very simple meal (chicken, plain noodles, and broccoli) before the holiday, and bagels and lox to break the fast. When the fast ends depends on your observance level - technically it’s sundown, but less observant Jews will push it earlier. If you are under the age of 13 or have a medical condition (including pregnancy or nursing) you are not expected to do a full fast, though you may be expected to give something up - no sweets, for example. Kids generally slowly get used to it over a period of years, and fully fast for the first time when they’re in their teens.
Hanukkah you already know some about, but I can reiterate a bit here. It falls between November 27th and January 2nd, though usually it’s mostly in December. The tradition is foods fried in oil - which especially means latkes (potato pancakes). Darcy will have opinions on if latkes are better with applesauce or sour cream (applesauce is better, imo). Sufganiyot (jelly donuts) and gelt (chocolate coins) are also common. Darcy may or may not have her own menorah (I can’t remember if I brought one to college, but I have one in my apartment for sure) and may or may not light it every night. There’s also the dreidel game, which is kind of boring if you’re not a kid or playing with kids, so unless Darcy is trying to share traditions with the Avengers, she likely won’t play it and probably won’t even own a dreidel.
Passover, which can fall between March 25th and May 1st (usually April), is the big family home holiday. To celebrate, you do a seder (a ceremonial meal with a whole bunch of steps and telling the story and stuff) on both the first and second nights (unless you’re in Israel but let’s not get into that complication). There will be a lot of blessings, telling the story of Passover (in English or Hebrew), discussion of the same points that people argue over every single freaking year (I’m looking at you, four children), a very large meal with a lot of specific foods, and singing. Lots of singing. Probably offkey singing.
If Darcy’s going to go back to her parents for one holiday, this is the likely one, unless she’s got a specific reason to go home for the others.
The other thing about Passover is it lasts eight days, and it has extra food rules. On top of the usual rules of keeping kosher (I’ll discuss those in a bit), you don’t eat bread or anything made with leavening (cookies, cakes, etc.). A lot of Jews also don’t eat kitniyot - corn, legumes (including soy, beans, peas, and peanuts), or rice, but that’s shifting - not eating them is becoming less common. Darcy may or may not keep kosher for Passover at all, and she may or may not keep it the whole holiday. But if she hosts a seder or attends a seder, it WILL be kosher for Passover even if it’s not regular kosher (I have a friend whose family has been known to serve shrimp at their seders but they’d never even consider serving bread).
Traditional Passover foods include: wine (lots and lots and lots of wine), green vegetables (often parsley/celery) dipped in salt water, matzah, maror (horseradish), charoset (a yummy dish made of apples, walnuts, and wine or grape juice mixed together - a lot of people include cinnamon and some go for more exotic varieties), and hard boiled eggs. Lamb used to be common but it’s less common now, and what meat her family eats could be any number of things - but they likely have one thing they do every year, if not more than one. My family always does turkey for one meal, my brother-in-law’s family always does brisket. Matzah ball soup is likely.
Darcy may or may not attend a seder while in NYC, but if she doesn’t, she’ll probably feel the lack. In some ways, this is the central ritual of Judaism.
I’m not going to go hardcore into the minor holidays, but we do need to discuss yahrzheits. Those are basically death anniversaries. If a close family member (defined as a parent, sibling, spouse, or child) dies, a Jew is required to say a specific prayer (kadish) for them for a period of time (30 days for spouse/sibling/child, 11 months for a parent - yes I mean 11, not 12, and it’s Hebrew months, not English), and on five days of every year for the rest of their lives. Those five days are the yahrzheit (Hebrew anniversary of the death), Yom Kippur, Sh’mini Atzeret, the eighth day of Passover, and the second day of Shavuot. Darcy will almost certainly not do this for most family members, including grandparents. But if she had a sibling or parent die (spouse and child are unlikely in most fics), she may for them. I do for my dad - I at least say kaddish for my dad on these days, even if I don’t make it to synagogue, though I try to get to synagogue. Technically you’re only supposed to say kaddish in a minyan (group of ten Jewish adults, men only if you’re Orthodox but screw that, I count women too and so do Reform and Conservative Judaism), but I’d rather say it improperly than not say it at all.
Food
On to food!
Darcy may or may not keep kosher, and honestly, unless she’s really observant, it’s highly unlikely for her to keep fully kosher.
Main rules of keeping kosher:
No mixing meat and milk (some people extend this to waiting after meat before eating milk, because they mix in your stomach) (birds and mammals count as meat, fish counts as parve aka neither meat nor milk, yes I know it’s contradictory and confusing)
Only fish with fins and scales (no shellfish, no eel, no shark, you can debate swordfish because it has scales in some stages but not others)
Only mammals that chew their cud AND have cloven hooves (generally this means beef, lamb, venison are all fine, but pork definitely isn’t and neither are less commonly eaten mammals)
Even if it’s a kosher animal, it must have been killed kosherly and be certified
All food must be certified kosher
Darcy is not likely to keep all of these rules (that last one…no). Darcy may not keep any of these rules, but she also may keep some. There are layers within this. I, for example, don’t eat unkosher animals (no pork or shrimp) but am not super careful about checking at restaurants (I’m sure I’ve had a hot dog with pork in it before). I also eat kosher animals (chicken, beef) that have been killed in unkosher ways, but not on my dishes, which are kosher. I don’t mix meat and milk directly (no cheese on my burgers) but am not super careful when eating out (I don’t check that a bun has no milk before eating it with my burger) and definitely don’t wait between meat and milk.
Darcy may have grown up not keeping kosher at all and chosen to stay that way, or may have chosen to go more kosher (my mom did). She also may have grown up keeping completely kosher and chosen to stay that way, or may have tossed it entirely (my sister grew up completely kosher at home and now eats anything). She also may have started in the middle and moved in any direction.
A note for this: kosher meat is expensive. Seriously. Kosher restaurants are even more so. Kosher for Passover restaurants are practically highway robbery.
Either way, Darcy’s family food traditions may lean American or Jewish, and a lot of that will depend on where you put her growing up. But food is an integral part of Jewish life (there’s a joke that every Jewish holiday boils down to “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat”, which is an exaggeration, though not much of one), so this is an easy place to put stuff. Give her a love for bagels and lox. Have her make brisket on holidays. Say it’s not a real Shabbat without a challah. Give her a taste for gefilte fish. Have her insist on matzah ball soup at certain times of the year. Make matzah brei a comfort food.
Not quite food but related: the main blessing before meals is the motzi, which is what you say over bread. Darcy probably doesn’t say this at any point other than a Shabbat dinner. There’s also benching, which is grace after meals. Darcy may or may not do this at family meals and big meals, but she’s unlikely to do it after every meal, especially when she’s on her own.
Other Jewish Life
Darcy is almost certainly not Orthodox, based purely on her appearance in the films. Basically? She’s wearing pants. Orthodox women do not wear pants, and generally wear skirts that cover their knees and shirts that cover their elbows. Some Orthodox women cover their hair after marriage, ranging from headscarfs to wigs (their husband can see their hair and other women and children can, but not other adult men). This is unlikely to be the case for Darcy.
When in college, Darcy probably at least knew about, even if she didn’t belong to, Culver’s Hillel - its Jewish student organization. They would’ve done at least the major holidays and some of the minor ones (Purim’s a popular one, considering it’s pretty much dressing up in costumes, eating hamantashen [triangle cookies filled with various yummy things but mainly fruit jelly stuff], drinking [you are literally supposed to get drunk], and listening to people read the megillah [which takes about an hour] and booing whenever Haman’s name is mentioned - it’s like if you smushed Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day into one holiday). They may have had a latke-hamantashen debate, which is always fun. They probably did at least some Shabbat dinners, if not every week.
It’s a lot harder to find a Jewish community as an unmarried twenty-something with no kids, but synagogues in NYC are focusing on that age group more than they used to, so Darcy may or may not have attended some events. She probably doesn’t actually belong to a synagogue unless she actually goes every week, but she also may have one or two she’s likely to go to when she does go.
When she goes, she may or may not wear a kippah (yarmulke) or a tallit (prayer shawl). As a woman, neither is required, but I know a lot of modern women who prefer to when they pray. She will likely dress a little more conservatively for synagogue than she would otherwise (be more likely to wear a skirt, for example).
Darcy probably at least went to synagogue occasionally as a kid, and may have had some level of Jewish education. This can range from once a week (if she’s Reform) to three times a week (common in Conservative) to going to a day school (also common in Conservative but even more so in Orthodox, takes the place of regular school, teaches both regular subjects and Jewish ones). The last is more common in certain areas of the country, and may not be at all accessible in others. If she went to day school, she’ll read and speak at least some Hebrew (fluency is unlikely unless she went all the way through high school), but if she didn’t and just went to Hebrew school, she’ll have less - but she’ll still know some words and be able to at least read the letters.
She also may or may not have attended a Jewish sleepaway camp, where you go for either one or two months. Those are more likely to be kosher, and even the less observant ones usually do at least Friday night or Saturday morning services for the whole camp every week.
Darcy may or may not have a mezuzah on her apartment door. It’s a small scroll you hang on the doorframe - you’re supposed to do it in every room, but a lot of people only do one for the house/apartment. They come in all sorts of fun shapes/colors.
She may have attended Jewish weddings and may want certain customs in her own wedding (assuming you want to write one). There are a ton of these and if you want more details, you can ask, but the traditions range from breaking a glass to a specific unveiling to being lifted on chairs to benching after the meal. And there are tons more. It all depends on what the couple does.
If she’s attended a family funeral, it’s likely been Jewish, and included customs from shiva (sitting and mourning for seven days) to specific prayers to ways of burial. If it’s a close relative, she may occasionally visit the grave (I go to Dad’s once a year, Mom goes two or three times a year, but I only visit my grandparents’ graves when I happen to be in Cleveland). Ask me for more details if you want to include a Jewish funeral or grave visit.
Names! Darcy is not a traditionally Jewish name, but she may be named after someone. In Judaism, you only name after people who are already dead, but multiple people may be named after the same dead person - my father’s cousins include Phillip, Phyllis, Francine, Francine, and Frances, who are all named after their grandmother Feiga. But the two Francines are not named after each other. Darcy could be named after a David, for example. She may also have a middle name that’s more directly after someone, or have a meaning associated with it. Her Hebrew name may sound like her English name, but it may also be totally unrelated (i.e. it could be Dara or Dina or it could be Tzipporah or Ayelet) and that might be after someone even if the English isn’t. If she’s named after someone (which is likely even in a tangential sense), she will know who she is named after (my five year old niece and nephew can tell you that his middle name is Abraham after mommy’s daddy and her middle name is Evandra after grandpa’s daddy Eugene).
As you may have noticed, I’ve used a bunch of Hebrew/Yiddish words in this post. This is also likely how Darcy will refer to certain things - she’ll go to a seder, not a Passover meal, though she might explain it to a non-Jew after she automatically says the Hebrew word.
In conclusion, there are a lot of options, depending on how observant you want to make both her and her family, and they range quite a bit! So feel free to use any of these or ask if something else would be plausible!
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Writing Jewish Characters: Purim
Welcome back to Writing Jewish Characters! Today we’re discussing Purim.
Purim, similar to Hanukkah, is a minor holiday that has gotten elevated due to being fun for both kids and adults. The no work rules (as discussed in this post) do not apply.
Purim gets its name from the Hebrew word for “lots” - as in a lottery, not as in many. This is because, in the story of Purim, Haman (the bad guy) drew lots to decide which day he was going to kill all the Jews. The day he picked was this one. Yeah, this holiday very much fits the old saying of “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat.”
Purim falls on the 14th of Adar, unless it’s a leap year. If it’s a leap year (see my discussion of the Jewish calendar), Adar is the month that gets duplicated. So instead of having one Adar, you have Adar I and Adar II, and in that case, Purim falls on the 14th of Adar II, with an even more minor observance of Purim Katan (little Purim) on the 14th of Adar I. These dates can fall between February 23rd and March 25th, with Purim Katan approximately a month earlier when it happens, which means it generally falls in late February.
(As for why Adar is the month that gets duplicated, I’ve heard a number of conflicting answers. The most common seems to be that since holidays are counted in months from Nissan, adding a month anywhere else would change what month those holidays fall in. In a sense, Adar is the last month of the year even though in another sense it’s not, and you add stuff at the end. It also may have had to do with trying to make sure Passover happens specifically in the spring.)
Ta’anit Esther
The day before Purim we have a minor fast day called Ta’anit Esther, or the fast of Esther.
Following the usual rules of fast days (see this post), this is a sunrise to sundown fast, and a fairly relaxed one.
This happens because, in the story of Esther, she fasted for three days and nights before going to the king to plead for the lives of the Jewish people. To remember that, we fast during the day leading up to Purim...assuming it doesn’t fall on Shabbat. Therefore, Ta’anit Esther, which usually should be on the 13th of Adar, can occasionally fall two days earlier on the 11th of Adar so it doesn’t interfere with Shabbat. It therefore falls between February 21st and March 24th. All minor fast day rules apply.
Purim
Purim is a very fun holiday. The main observance is to listen to the Book of Esther, or the Megillah, all the way through. This is called the Megillah (scroll) even though Megillat Esther is only one of five megillot that we read on various days. But if you hear someone referring to ‘the’ Megillah, it’s this one.
It’s usually read in synagogues either or both of the evening and morning of Purim, with the evening often being the more adult-oriented holiday and the morning often being the more kid-oriented one.
When the megillah is read, everyone uses groggers (noisemakers) and boos whenever Haman’s name is said, since we’re supposed to drown out his name.
Groggers come in all shapes and sizes, and can be made of wood, metal, or plastic - or possibly other materials, though those are the most common. A lot of Jewish families own them, but synagogues will also give them out right before the Megillah reading. I’ve occasionally seen people use maracas if they didn’t have actual groggers. Stomping and shouting are both also acceptable.
If you’re an adult on Purim, it’s actually considered a mitzvah (good deed or commandment depending on the context, we’ll discuss this in more detail elsewhere) to get drunk on Purim. In fact, you’re supposed to get so drunk you can’t tell the difference between Haman and Mordechai, who not only have completely different names, but are also the bad guy and one of the heroes of the story, respectively. Purim even falls on St. Patrick’s day every once in a while, so...this can be interesting.
Your characters may or may not drink to excess, but if they like alcohol or are in college, this is definitely a time to write that into your story.
Kids obviously don’t drink, but they do participate in other ways - the booing, for one. For kids, a lot of the fun comes in dressing up. This holiday is often called the Jewish Halloween and it’s not an inaccurate comparison. This is the holiday where Jews dress up. A lot of more religious Orthodox Jews won’t celebrate Halloween, but they will celebrate Purim. (Which is interesting, since some of the traditions possibly originate in another Christian tradition - Carnival, which is around this time of year.)
And who can say no to hamantaschen? The traditional food of Purim, hamantaschen, also called Oznei Haman (Haman’s ears), are meant to represent either Haman’s triangular hat or his triangular ears, depending on who you ask. They’re dough circles filled with various yummy things (poppyseed is the oldest variant, followed by fruit preserves, but stuff like chocolate and nutella are becoming more common), folded into a triangle shape, and baked.
If your characters are buying their hamantaschen instead of making them, they will most likely find packages that come in either raspberry, apricot, prune, a combination of those three, poppyseed, or chocolate. Specialty stores may have more options, but those are the most common. If they make them at home...well, they can use anything they want.
On Purim, we also give mishloach manot, which are bags of food/other fun stuff that are given between friends. They generally include hamantaschen and either wine or grape juice, plus other snacks/toys.
This is also a big tzedakah (charity) day - we’re supposed to give money and gifts to the poor.
As for not actually prescribed but still common things, a lot of synagogues will do a Purim carnival, which is basically a bunch of carnival-type games where kids can play and win prizes. Most of the time kids come in costume. This can be done during the day after the morning Megillah reading or on another date (usually a Sunday for ease of scheduling).
Also common is a Purim Spiel, in which a group of actors will put on a comedic skit or play that in some way relates back to Purim, or at least Judaism. This is often hilarious - for instance, the one I attended last year spoofed Hamilton and Disney with Jewish-related songs, and I laughed so hard I cried. This can be done either before, after, or during the Megillah reading (usually the evening adult-oriented one) or on another date.
Common at colleges/universities is the latke-hamantaschen debate, in which various people (often professors) debate which is better, the latke or the hamantaschen.
They will use their field of study to make their point - such as a math professor, for example, who discusses the inherent perfection of the triangular hamantaschen as opposed to the shapeless latke, or a law professor who points out that the Supreme Court has cited latkes but not hamantaschen, so therefore they are superior. Latkes and hamantaschen are (naturally) served afterwards.
All in all, due to its fun-ness, Purim, like Hanukkah, is a holiday that’s become more popular than it technically warrants. It’s a big deal at schools and colleges, and synagogues find it fun. Your adult characters may not do a lot for it (this year I’ll probably just eat a hamantaschen since I’m working and not taking off), but if your character has kids or is a kid, you’ll definitely want to mention this holiday.
Want to read more about Writing Jewish Characters? Check out our posts!
Like our Jewish posts? Buy us a coffee! (...Or a hamantaschen.)
#judaism#writing jewish characters#jewish characters#kosher#holidays#jewish holiday#religious holidays#religion#writing tips#characterization#character development#kashrut#purim#ta'anit esther#fast of esther
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it’s officially the last few hours of the fast aka just me in bed convincing myself not to break the fast despite how sick i feel
#jumblr#judaism#purim#ta’anit esther#the fast of esther#im so hungry and my head is pounding#personal#not fandom#abt me
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This Year, I'm Keeping the Fast of Esther
This Year, I'm Keeping the Fast of Esther
Image: Hands holding a globe of earth ( cocoparisienne / Pixabay)
If you have a good Jewish calendar, you may have noticed that on the day before Purim, there is something called Ta’anit Esther, the Fast of Esther. This is one of the minor fasts – “minor” meaning a dawn-to-dusk fast, unlike the Yom Kippur 25-hour fast.
The fast commemorates the three day fast that Queen Esther asked the…
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